Sports 09-27-2018

WHS sports roundup

Volleyball team edges Pope John

The Winthrop High volleyball team earned a hard-fought, 3-2 victory at Pope John XXIII of Everett this past Friday.

Senior captain Fatma Tufa led the way for the Lady Vikings with nine kills and four blocks and sophomore Caroline Earl put away eight kills.

Sophomore Carolyn Kinsella led Winthrop with great serving, including six aces.

First year co-head coaches Rachel DelSolio and Lauren Kostegan also lauded the great defensive play and passing by senior captain Adela Hoxhaj and senior Stephanie Strangie.

The JV team also played well and came home with a victory.

“The girls have been very welcoming and helpful to us as first-year coaches,” said DelSolio and Kosetgan, whose squad features eight seniors, Hoxhaj, Tufa, Ava Bertino, Kirsten Griffiths, Strangie, Aliyah Lovell, and Emma Turner.

“Each match that we play, we learn the team’s strengths and weaknesses and build upon that for the next match,” the coaches added.

The Lady Vikings have a busy stretch this week. They were set to play Lynn Classical this past Tuesday and will host  Lynn English today (Thursday). They will entertain Mt. Alvernia on Monday, trek to Marblehead Tuesday, and return home to face Beverly next Thursday.

 

Golfers win two

more, now 6-2

The Winthrop High golf team earned two more victories this past week, raising its record to 6-2 on the season.

The Vikings posted lopsided wins over Everett, 62-10, and Revere, 64-8, and came up short against Saugus, 39-33, that was part of a tri-match on Monday with Revere.

“There were a number of highlights for the team this week,” said WHS coach John Cross. “Drew Dimento shot his personal best, a 37, and Evan Smotrich posted his best at 38. Both scores were shot on our home course at the Winthrop Golf Club.

“Jack Sicurella continues to dominate his matches,” Cross added, “and Mike Gillis has been playing well at the eight spot, where he is continuing to get better every week.”

Cross and his linksmen were set to take on Lynn Classical yesterday (Wednesday) and will play at Lynn English today (Thursday). They will host Bishop Fenwick Tuesday and travel to Salem next Thursday.

 

WHS cross country

teams meet Swampscott

 

The Winthrop High boys and girls cross country teams took on Swampscott last week in their delayed season-opener on the Vikings’ home course at Deer Island.

Cormac MacPhail and Camila Miranda-Llovera, the respective captains of the boys and girls teams, picked up where they left off last year, with both coming across the line in first place. Cormac led the boys’ race from start to finish, posting a time of 14:44 over the 2.6-mile course.

Camila pulled away at the two mile mark in the girls’ contest and finished in a time of 17:21.

Both Cormac and Camila have set lofty goals this season with the big one in their sights, a return spot at the All-States.

The final result showed the boys falling to Swampscott, 24-32, and the girls dropping their meet, 28-38.

The top five Viking boys were:

(1st place) Cormac Macphail, 14:44

(4th) Ari Hain, 15:27

(6th) Patrick Haskell, 16:10

(13) Michael Angelo Marcoccio, 18:05

(16) Mark Amatucci, 19:05.

“It was an especially amazing start for young freshman Ari Hain in his first varsity race,” said WHS head coach Warren MacPhail. “Patrick Haskell also turned in a fine performance with a personal record (PR) time.”

The Lady Viking finishers were:

(1st place) Camila Miranda Llovera, 17:21

(9th) Caroline Zuffante, 21:11

(18) Kat Thano, 22:24

(21) Zara Powell, 24:15

(24) Catherine Zuffante, 26:38

(25) Heather Buccini, 29:39

“There were 39 total runners,” noted MacPhail. “Caroline Zuffante ran a great race to finish ninth.”

Both teams were set to return to action yesterday (Wednesday) vs. Salem and then will make the long ride to Gloucester next Wednesday.

 

WHS boys soccer

team improving

 

Although the Winthrop High boys soccer team came up short in its contests this week against Lynn English and Gloucester, WHS head coach Kyle Gagin saw many positive signs in his team’s performance that bode well for the future.

Last Thursday’s match at English was not reflective of the 3-0 final score. After a scoreless first half, the Bulldogs took a 1-0 advantage shortly after the intermission.

The Vikings created many opportunities to bring the contest back to level, but were unable to finish. English finally broke through again with about 10 minutes to play and added a meaningless tally in the final two minutes.

“The team looked even better in the second half than we did in the first, but luck wasn’t on our side as we deserved at least one goal,” said Gagin, who lauded the play of sophomore Alex Sorrano, a Spanish exchange student.

“Alex looked great in the midfield, as did sophomore Joe Holgerson at defense,” noted Gagin. “Holy, who is in only his second year of ever playing soccer, has been solid. Freshman Zane Bower also looked great at defense, as did his fellow classmates Ryan Kfoury and Juan Guauque in the midfield. Freshman JD Parker impressed as well. Seniors Andy Angulo, Riley Bosse, Olsi Cahani, Jaylin Cordes, Cory Cherico, Tony Nargi and Pat Sennott were all unreal leaders in this game.”

This past Tuesday the Vikings made the long trek to Gloucester where they engaged in a 7-5 shootout with the Fishermen.

Winthrop grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Cordes, but Gloucester responded with three goals for a 3-1 lead after the first 40 minutes.

Gloucester added another goal shortly into the second half, but the Vikings refused to give up and bounced back with a pair of goals from Olsi and Cordes to slice the lead to 4-3.

With the momentum on their side, the Vikings continued to press the attack in the Gloucester end. Winthrop appeared to have earned a penalty kick when captain Tony Nargi was fouled in the box, but the ref awarded a free kick instead.

However, the Vikings did not capitalize on the opportunity and the Fishermen regained some momentum, which eventually resulted in a foul by Winthrop in the box and a PK, which Gloucester converted to make it 5-3.

The Vikings refused to quit and Cordes struck for his third goal to make it a 5-4 contest. However, that would be as close as the Vikings would get for the rest of the day. Gloucester went on to reach the back of the Viking net for two more, while Cordes — who would end up wth four goals and an assist to add to his team-high six goals on the season — struck again for the 7-5 finale.

“Defensively we lacked focus, which led to their goals,” said Gagin. “Our keeper, Corey Cherico, had a great game himself, although the scoreline might say otherwise. Goalies always get the heat for letting in goals, but in the end, the ball has to get through 10 other guys, which is inexcusable, and we have to work on that.

“Alex Sorrano and Zane Bower also looked great in this game,” Gagin added. “The inexperience is hurting us right now, but that will only turn to experience later down the road and the seniors have been great role models to our younger players. We deserved a better result and with the way we’ve been playing, we will get something eventually.”

The Vikings were set to host Danvers last night (Wednesday) and travel to Saugus tomorrow (Friday). They play at Everett Tuesday evening and return home to face Malden next Thursday.

 

From the Press Box

The Pioneers return

By: Jim Lederman

The Winthrop Vikings and the Lynnfield Pioneers have only played twice. In 2014 two undefeated teams, Winthrop and Lynnfield played in the North Final at Miller Field.

Lynnfield prevailed (32-14) after the Vikings had five second-half turnovers. Lynnfield lost to Holliston, the Vikings defeated Revere (14-6) to finish the season with a (10-1) record and the Northeastern Conference South Championship.

Friday night, 7 p.m. the ‘Pioneers’ will battle the Vikings at the (new) Miller Field.

The Vikings hope to bounce back after losing to the ‘Big Blue’ of Swampscott (40-6) Lynnfield is still in search of their first win (0-3).

The Pioneers was routed (30-8) to a hungry Amesbury team under the lights at legendary Landry Stadium. Lynnfield opened the campaign losing to Newburyport at War Memorial stadium in Newburyport. Lynnfield lost their second game at Wayland.

Lynnfield has a new coach Paul Lamusta. In 2017, the Vikings lost to Lynnfield (47-6) at their new stadium.

The Big Blue scored 30-first half points. The Big Blue took advantage of three Winthrop first half fumbles, leading to three touchdowns on their first three possessions.

Zack Palmer took the opening kickoff at his own 16-yard line, dropped it, doubled back about six yards, and then turned on the jets up the middle for an 84-yard touchdown return.

Junior fullback Dylan January scored his first of three touchdowns and with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter, it was (13-0) Swampscott.

Coach Jon Cadigan felt “his team had a bad day on Tuesday and it carried over to Friday night.” “We need to keep working to minimize our mistakes and we need to play better at practice to convert that into game conditions.”

“It’s about using that next play, that next opportunity to have players say, “I’m going to give my all.” We need to have a short memory and go back and start over, one play at a time.”

Swampscott junior quarterback Graham Inzana threw for 233 yards. His 60-yard touchdown pass to Zak Marks was a big play in the scoring parade.

Coach Cadigan praised the talented and young Swampscott team. “They are a good team and well coached squad.”

Swampscott plays Salem on Saturday at Blocksidge Field. The Big Blue will battle the Lynn English Bulldogs at Manning Field on Saturday, October 6th. The winner will capture the ‘tier three’ NEC title!

 

 

Skimming the Sidelines

The Revere Patriots knocked off previously unbeaten Lynn Classical (19-16) in overtime at Harry DellaRusso stadium in Revere on Friday night.

The Patriots lost sophomore standout quarterback Calvin Boudileau, with a season ending shoulder separation in the loss to unbeaten Marblehead two weeks ago.

The Patriots got a solid performance from quarterback Jonathan Murphy (4 for 4) 63 yards and a touchdown. The ‘star’ for Revere was place kicker sophomore Rayan Riazi, who kicked two field goals (33 and 30 yards) to lead Revere to the upset victory.

The Patriots won the Thanksgiving day (17-14) thriller on the foot of Bader Haou last year at Miller Field (17-14).

The Patriots travel to Peabody to play the Tanners on Friday night.

Saugus won their first game under the tutelage of new coach Mike Mabee on Saturday at Stackpole Field. The Sachems (1-2) defeated Salem (14-0).

Salem (2-1) travels to play Swampscott on Friday. The Witches and the Vikings play next Friday night at Bertram Field in Salem.

 

Extra Points

Senior Andrew Love was the ‘Black Shirt’ winner on defense on Friday night.

Quarterback Jonathan Applebee was 4 for 13-79 yards. Senior tight end Bret Sheehan had a 27-yard completion. Speedy soph Bobby Hubert had a 40-yard pass and run to highlight the offense.

Feedle Small rushed 12 times for 33 yards. Lynn English (Vikings play the ‘Bulldogs’ on Friday night October 19th at Miller Field) was upset by Malden Catholic (41-28) at Manning Field.

 

 

The Professor

Congrats to George Kalogeris, Professor of English and Classics at Suffolk University.

George won the five points 2018 James Dickey prize for poetry. George has been a professor at Suffolk for 20 years.

George was the starting guard on the 1973 Winthrop high school NEC championship team (18-3) that lost in the Tech Tourney at Rindge Tech in the legendary Boston Garden.

George was the starting point guard for the Suffolk University hoop team. George’s brother John played on the 1976 NEC champions with Steve Demetriou and Kevin Corkhum.

How many remember the Kalogeris family market-‘quality market’ in Magee’s Corner?

Congrats Professor George!